Are You Playing the Right Instruments?

An often misunderstood part of the equation that helps you play your best golf is the fit of your golf clubs. Not only are they the right length, flex and weight for you, but are they the right type of clubs to fit your game?

Incorrect fit can cause all sorts of problems for you. Too long or too short will hinder your ability to hit the ball on the sweet spot of the club. Too flat of a lie will make the club tend to hit the ground toe first and make the ball curve to the right. Too upright of a lie will tend to make the club hit the ground heel first and cause a pull or hook. If the flex of the shaft is too stiff it can rob you of distance, and if the club is too flexible it can rob you of accuracy.

For the most part golfers are aware of the advantages of being custom fit for things like length, lie and flex. However, I see too many golfers playing types of clubs that do not fit their type of game. A good shot is a good shot no matter what club you hit. If you hit it in the sweet spot, you will get a good result. But, what happens if you do not always hit the ball in the sweet spot of the club? That is where playing the correct type of clubs can save you strokes!

When playing forged blade or muscle back type irons, hitting the ball even slightly off the sweet spot will cause a dramatic decrease in distance. That is a killer when there is trouble short of a green! But, if you are playing cavity back style irons the loss will not be so great and the heel toe type weighting on cavity backs will also help you stray less offline.

Most companies now make a cavity back forged club that will give you the best of both worlds…feel and forgiveness. Playing the wrong clubs for your game is no different than buying shoes that are the wrong size, you will either end up with blisters or falling on your face! Both are equally painful! Make sure you have the right instrument in your hand and you have a better chance of making beautiful music!

Jeff Fisher is the Director of Instruction at the OB Sports Golf Academy at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona. Jeff can be reached at 480.414.9330 or jfisher@obsports.com.